Bonafide Kayaks Merge With Big Adventures Native Watercraft, Liquidlogic Kayaks and Hurricane Aquasports

I purchased my first kayak back in 2004. Wow, that was 16 years ago. It was a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 fishing kayak. I still have it today.  Since that time, I added a Tarpon 120 for my wife and I won a Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler at the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Tournament when the tournament was still taking place. Over the past few years, the Florida hurricane season has done a bang up job interfering with sport fishing and surfing tournaments coming to Florida. Throw in COVID-19 this year and the entire outdoor trade season changes from walking the Orange County Convention Center floor to sitting at your computer cruising all the outdoor recreation brands' websites.  

So where does that take us today? Well it gives us the opportunity to learn about new products by surfing the the internet and attending online trade shows. International Conventions of Allied Sportfishing Trades ICAST and the Summer Outdoor Retailer will have their shows online in a virtual format. 

Many of the major kayak fishing brands have consolidated. One of the big consolidations took place last year when Big Adventures' Native Watercraft, Liquidlogic Kayaks, Hurricane Aquasports merged with Bonafide Kayaks. The coming together of these brands makes the innovation of fishing kayaks more exciting for future buyers. When the July 2020 ICAST virtual Trade Show opens in a few weeks, there will be great news coming from these kayak brands. Please come back later next month to learn more about what's new for the 2021 kayak fishing season.  

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

WNC, Naturally - Blue Ridge Mountain Guided Hikes

It seems that I have not posted in years. My last post was in August of 2019.  I feel that I have been in the fog. 

Since the COVID-19 has spread all across America and is spiking in the southern states, I have been keeping my distance here in Florida from almost everyone I come in contact with. One of my bright spots other than blitzing tv shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime, is I get to keep up with my Air Force buddy Scott Dean.  Scott is a professional naturalist who lives in Waynesville, NC in Haywood County.  Scott is an subject matter expert on the flora of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  He teachers classes each flower season and conducts guided hiking tours. If you are interested in this classes and one of his guided hiking tours just visit WNC Naturally on Facebook. Scott also has a personal Facebook page where he posts lots of his great fauna and flora photos. 

So if you have been cooped up in your home and need to get out, how about a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Be sure while traveling to keep safe from COVID-19 by following the CDC guidelines for travelers. 

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

SURF EXPO SEPTEMBER 2019 COMING SOON

In a few short week the 2019 Surf Expo will return to the Orange County Convention Center.  This is the second Surf Expo of each year.  Each year the expo just keeps getting better and better.  So if you are an owner or buyer for a local surf shop or a sporting goods store or specialty outdoor gear  retailer, do not forget to mark your calendar and make your Orlando travel reservations because September will be here before you know it. Do not miss out by not attending. Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

ENDLESS SANDALS, FLIP FLOPS AND SHOES AT SURF EXPO

When one goes to Surf Expo you will see almost every brand of sandals, flip flops and surf lifestyle shoes one can imagine.  Each season these brands create a selection  of new styles that can make your head spin.  Rider, Sanuk and Flojos are just three of the many brands exhibiting each year at Surf Expo.  What I have found out by attending Surf Expo over these past years is there is a duplicate of styles between brands and price points. If you are not tied to a particular brand and are just looking for a style you like at a price you can afford, you will be able to find what you want by searching the web or your local retailers. You will find these three brands at almost every surf shop from the Pacific to the Gulf to the Atlantic coasts. During a trip to the Outter Banks this past June, we shopped at the the Kitty Hawk Surf Shop. Upon entering the shop is was like going to Surf Expo. Every brand I could remembering seeing at Surf Expo was on display for sale.  I saw these three brands on their racks. 

I am lucky to have Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach just 32 minutes from where I live. Ron Jon carries all three brands. So if you are looking for a new pair of sandals, flip flops and surf lifestyle shoes be sure to check out your local surf shop if you have one to go to or visit your local sporting goods retailer or department store because they all carry one or more of these brands.  The second Surf Expo of the year is the first week in September where all the brands will be there.  This marks the end of summer surfing as we head into the fall and winter surfing season here along the Space Coast.  Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day n the great outdoors.

ICEMULE COOLERS NEW GO SERIES AT SURF EXPO

When I go to Surf Expo in January and September of each year I have my favorite brands.  ICEMULE just happens to be one of my favorite brands. I have been covering ICEMULE since they first showed at Surf Expo many years ago.

As a media guy I sometimes get free samples to try out. After the show, I received my first ICEMULE.  After extensive testing I was sold.  I love how you can roll up the cooler into a small  tube. You can carry this in your luggage or in your backpack until you get to your destination to use it.  In a pinch it can also be  used as an insulated dry bag.  When traveling using motels, it is the perfect solution going to the ice machine to get ice for your room.  Just slide the open end of the cooler bag under the ice machine ice dispenser and just fill the bag up.  So convenient. Here are my photos from Surf Expo and few I took to show how the bag rolls up.  The photo above of my ICEMULE was taken on a dolphin tour at the Outter Banks. Just the right size to carry on the boat. When you seal the cooler bag by rolling the top of the bag and clipping it shut, a perfect handle is formed. This makes the bag real easy to tote. At the January 2019 Surf Expo, ICEMULE rolled out the new GO SERIES coolers.  These coolers are the next generation from the original design with new fabrics and insulation.  Be sure to give  these a look at your local retailer or online. So when you are looking to get a lightweight flexible cooler, check out ICEMULE.  Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

IGLOO COOLERS TAKE IT UP A NOTCH AT SURF EXPO

At the January 2019 Surf Expo, Igloo Coolers had a really great display of all their new rugged coolers.  With the cooler war battles being fought on many fronts, Igloo has really stepped up their game giving outdoor campers, hunters and anglers a few really good choices. I especially likes their all-terrain "Trailmate Journey"  70 quart cooler.  makes it real easy to move a cooler full of ice long distances by pulling it along behind you.  Check it out by visiting the Igloo Cooler Website.  All the Igloo coolers can be purchased at a local retailer near you or online. Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

2019 January Surf Expo Skate Jamb